The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has dismissed sexual harassment claims levelled against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Nwaebonyi, who was an eyewitness to the events in question, described the allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Senate President.
Recall that Senator Natasha, representing Kogi Central, had recently accused Akpabio of making inappropriate advances during a birthday celebration at his residence in December 2023.
In an interview on AriseTV’s The Morning Show on February 28, 2025, Natasha recounted that Akpabio allegedly requested an intimate relationship while showing her around his Ikot-Ekpene home, an assertion that she further claimed was repeated when she visited his office to discuss Ajaokuta Steel Company issues.
However, Senator Nwaebonyi strongly refuted these claims, stating that Akpabio did not engage in any such conduct.
Speaking on Arise TV yesterday, Nwaebonyi, who had attended the Senate President’s birthday ceremony in December, outlined the events that unfolded that day.
“I was among the Senators that attended the birthday ceremony of the Senate President. I drove in the same vehicle with Senator Natasha and her husband from Senator Attah Airport. We participated in a series of activities within Uyo town and then proceeded to Ikot-Ekpene,” Nwaebonyi recalled.
The Deputy Chief Whip elaborated further, noting that when they arrived at Akpabio’s residence, Natasha complained of discomfort from her shoes and stayed behind in the parlour while the rest of the senators proceeded to inspect the property.
“Senator Natasha was seated with her husband in the parlour. The Senate President took the rest of us on a tour of the house, showing us the chapel and hosting a Holy Mass with Catholic Senators,” Nwaebonyi stated, adding that there was no time during the entire event that Akpabio made any improper advances toward Natasha.
Nwaebonyi also dismissed suggestions that Akpabio’s actions were somehow suggestive.
“There was never a time when the Senate President touched Senator Natasha. There was never a time when he asked her to return to his home to have a ‘good time,’” Nwaebonyi said.
In a further rebuttal of Natasha’s allegations, Nwaebonyi speculated that the claims were possibly linked to her dissatisfaction with a change in seating arrangements and committee assignments in the Senate.
“It is disheartening for a Senator to make such a grave accusation simply because she was moved to a different seat or had her committee changed. To accuse a man old enough to be your father of such misconduct is appalling,” Nwaebonyi lamented.
When asked about the steps the Senate was taking regarding Natasha’s accusations, Nwaebonyi firmly stated, “The Senate cannot act on hearsay. Senator Natasha has not formally presented any evidence or complaint before us.”
